spin

I UK [spɪn] / US verb
Word forms "spin":
present tense I/you/we/they spin he/she/it spins present participle spinning past tense spun UK [spʌn] / US past participle spun
**

1) [intransitive] to turn round and round quickly

The Earth spins on its axis.

The dancers were spinning in circles.

a) [transitive] to make something turn round and round quickly

Spin the wheel with your hand.

b) [intransitive] when a washing machine spins, it squeezes water out of the clothes by turning the drum round and round quickly

c) [intransitive/transitive] to turn your head or body quickly so that it faces the opposite direction, or to turn someone quickly so that they face you

He spun on his heel and walked quickly away.

2)

a) [intransitive/transitive] to twist fibres of a material such as cotton or wool into thread in order to make cloth

She spins all her own wool.

She taught me how to spin.

b) [transitive] if an insect or spider spins something such as a web, it makes it from thread that it produces in its body

The class watched the caterpillar spin its cocoon.

3) [intransitive] if your head spins, you feel confused or ill

4) [transitive] informal to present information in a particular way, especially in a way that makes something seem good or less bad

How do you think the candidate will spin this story?

5) [intransitive] to go somewhere quickly in a car, on a bicycle etc

spin past/by/away:

A car went spinning past us.

6) [transitive] mainly literary to tell a story, especially one that is not true, in an interesting and exciting way

He spun a ridiculous tale about having worked for the secret services in his youth.

Phrasal verbs:

- spin off

- spin out

- spin round

See:

heel I

II UK [spɪn] / US noun
Word forms "spin":
singular spin plural spins
*

1) [countable/uncountable] a quick turning movement round and round

Give the wheel a spin.

a) [uncountable] the movement of a ball that turns round and round after it has been thrown or hit

The ball had a lot of spin on it.

b) [singular] the movement of an aircraft that turns as it falls with its front pointing towards the ground

go into a spin:

The plane suddenly went into a spin.

2) [singular/uncountable] informal a way of presenting information, especially a way that makes something seem good or less bad

Not even the cleverest politician could put a positive spin on this.

3) [countable] informal a short journey for pleasure in a car

go for a spin:

We're going for a spin in Al's new car.

take a car for a spin:

Why don't you take the car for a spin?

•

- in a spin